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HOME/Healthy Living/6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain

6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain

October 18, 2022
812 Comments
By: Adam Powell, MD

I see this scenario quite frequently in cardiology clinic. Generally speaking, about a quarter of my new patients complain of the following set of symptoms at their appointment:  chest pain lasting for several months, maybe 2-4 times a week, for less than 10-20 seconds at a time, at a moderate intensity, sometimes with activity, but more often not. And the child just recently told his or her parents about it.

Understandably, the parents are worried.

But the good news is that while it’s pretty common for children to say that their chest hurts or even that their “heart hurts,” it’s rarely caused by heart disease.

Most kids will complain of chest pain sometime between age 7 and their teenage years, but thankfully, it will be caused by an underlying heart condition in less than 1% of them. More frequently it is related to a viral illness, stress, or most commonly, musculoskeletal pain.

It is my hope that this information will give parents a little peace of mind: the pain manifesting in your child’s chest is rarely caused by heart disease. But I also understand how concerning it can be for parents, and sometimes further investigation may be necessary to narrow down the cause. So where should parents start?

I suggest answering the following questions:

  1. Has my child been sick recently?
    One of the more common causes of chest pain in children is from costochondritis. This is a condition characterized by inflammation in the joint between the breastbone and the ribs, typically caused by a viral illness or frequent coughing. Costochondritis is not concerning, but in some cases it can be long lasting and your child may need a prescription anti-inflammatory to get rid of it.
  2. Was my child injured recently?
    If your child was hit in the chest during a sporting event or even a fall, this could be a more obvious cause of the chest pain. However, even heavy lifting, frequent coughing, or intense aerobic exercise can strain the rib muscles and cause chest pain. You’ll want to contact your pediatrician if the pain is severe, persistent, or associated with difficulty breathing.
  3. Is my child stressed?
    While it might be difficult to imagine a 7-year-old being stressed, school pressures and the loss of a loved one, for example, can all contribute to feelings of stress. What may be even more surprising is that stress can cause chest pain. While chest pain caused by stress is harmless – it’s really no different than a stress-related headache – the duration of the pain is understandably worrisome for parents.
  4. When does it hurt?
    Does it hurt when your child is sitting down, or only when he or she is active? Chest pain from non-cardiac causes usually happens both when a child is at rest and when they are active. My first question is often whether the pain occurs during gym class or while watching TV. Chest pain that only happens with or immediately following moderate to vigorous activity, such as while running and playing competitive sports, is a different matter which does warrant further medical investigation.
  5. How long has it been hurting?
    Has it been going on for months or even years? If yes, then it is almost certainly not caused by heart disease. Chest pain caused by cardiac disease is either so severe that no child could cover it up or ignore it, or it is progressive and associated with other problems such as passing out or worsening fatigue, that it would be highly unusual for the symptoms to continue over several months. However, non-cardiac chest pain is the very opposite; it can often be ignored, is not associated with other concerns, and often just lingers in the background.
  6. How painful is it? Mild-to-moderate or severe?
    Typically mild-to-moderate chest pain is not related to the heart, and isn’t a cause for concern. However, the more concerning chest pain is when the pain is sudden and severe. Typically it will hurt so bad that your child will not want to go to school and will look like he or she is struggling with the pain. This kind of pain is most often caused by pericarditis, which is an inflammatory condition of the heart. Thankfully, pericarditis is very rare. But what’s interesting about it is that it’s the most common reason that a child’s chest pain is related to the heart. If your child has sudden onset of severe chest pain that is continuous and often occurs around the same time of an illness – contact your child’s pediatrician that same day.

The vast majority of the time, chest pain in children is not related to the heart. While there is no single medical history question or medical test that can determine the source of chest pain, hopefully the six questions discussed above can help parents and teens narrow down what’s potentially worrisome and what’s not. If you have any concerns at all, schedule an appointment with your pediatrician, and have your answers to the above questions ready. They will help steer your pediatrician in the right direction.

Read a related blog post to help your child find relief from chest pain. 

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About the author: Adam Powell, MD

Adam Powell, MD, is a pediatric cardiologist in the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children’s. Dr. Powell specializes in general cardiology and pediatric exercise cardiology and has published multiple papers regarding the exercise performance of children with and without heart disease. Prior to his time at Cincinnati Children’s, he served in the United States Air Force as a general pediatrician for 7 years. When he is not doctoring, he lives an active lifestyle involving early morning runs, coaching youth sports and chasing his three young children.

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Lindsey August 17, 2017 at 11:43 pm

Thank you for this information! It was very helpful because my 6 year old was complaining of chest pain today. It was most likely anxiety because we found out later that he had heard a story today of a family friend who had chest pain and was in the hospital and had to be cardioverted. This site helped us to calm him down! I really appreciated it!

Anne August 19, 2017 at 1:37 pm

Hi i am 12 years old and sometimes my chest just randomly starts hurting. sometimes it hurts a lot sometimes not, i get it usually like 1 time a month but sometimes its more. Dome anyone know what it could be? Or has someone had the same experience? And should i be worried

    Minus August 23, 2017 at 1:35 am

    I have the same problem, and I am the same age, it usually happens once every two months for me but it has happened twice in this past week. I used to just ignore but they are sharp pains and they effect my breathing. So now you know you aren’t alone and I’m experiencing this to.

    FantasticFox November 8, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    I’m 11 and have that aswell

    Joy July 6, 2018 at 5:08 am

    I’ve had the exact same thing I have no idea at all if we should be worried. I honestly hate the pain but I haven’t told anyone because my dad is so over protective! When I tell him things about how I’m hurt he’s so annoying about it because he wants me to rest when I’m just fine. Btw I’m 11

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      Rachel Camper July 9, 2018 at 8:52 am

      Hi Joy,

      If you haven’t already, please talk to your dad about your pain. It may help to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together.

    Bella August 26, 2018 at 1:22 pm

    I have the exact same thing and I am also 12 years old

    Cici October 9, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    this happens to me a lot sometimes I have to start breathing slow and pause cause it hurts so much and i am also 12 and don’t know if i should be worried either or i don’t know what it is or what to do

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      Rachel Camper October 10, 2018 at 6:21 am

      Hi Anne,

      I am sorry to hear that you’re having pain. If you haven’t already, please speak to your parents about this. You may want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post together. It can help you determine which symptoms may require a visit to your doctor.

    Gina October 11, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    I am 12 too! The same thing happens! It ussually hurts when I am in gym or when I scream lol. It happens about 1 a month. It only accurs for about 10-20 seconds long tho. But I do get some chest pain and upper back pain sometimes and I ussually am sitting. But in both cases when I breath in it always makes it hurt more. Does anyone know why this happens?

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      Rachel Camper October 12, 2018 at 11:23 am

      Hi Anne,

      I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, please tell your parents and perhaps watch Dr. Madsen’s video together. It may help explain the type of pain you’re having.

        Leila May 29, 2019 at 6:53 pm

        My daughter is 8 years old and she has been saying her chest has been hurting but today when she said it hurt she was crying because it hurt so badly and she been saying more often what should I do.

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          Rachel Camper May 30, 2019 at 6:14 am

          Hi Leila,

          I am sorry to hear that your daughter is in so much pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video for further perspective on the types of pain that are related to the heart (chest pain is caused by an underlying heart condition in less than 1%). If you’re still concerned, a trip to her doctor is never a bad idea for peace of mind.

    Rhea (ray-uh) January 14, 2019 at 3:40 am

    Hey Anne! I’m 12 as well, I had the same pains and I still do! I told my mom about it though, and she says it probably growing pains. Right now and at our age, us girls are developing our bodies so if it is only your chest then it’s probably nothing to worry about. If you really are worried then tell you’re dad or a trusted female adult if you have other questions that you are uncomfortable to ask you’re dad. But know you’re not alone sister! It sucks being a girl 😛

    Artsyo March 11, 2019 at 10:47 pm

    I used to have that. I found out that I had borderline anemia and if nothing was fixed i could permanently have it but it got solved. Hopefully, it won’t get too serious. good luck.

Emily September 1, 2017 at 9:00 pm

Hi. I’m 13 years old and I play competitive soccer and do track. I tend to have pain in my chest as well after a tiring run/workout/practice. It lasts a while though and when it goes away, it doesn’t come back until I run/workout/practice again. Knowing I get this pain, I get worried when I exercise. Should I be worried? How can I prevent this? What could it be?

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    Rachel Camper September 5, 2017 at 10:18 am

    Hi Emily,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re experiencing chest pain. I think your first step, if you haven’t already, is to discuss it with your parents. You might want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post together to determine which symptoms are worrisome and to discuss if a checkup with your doctor is a good idea.

Crisha September 21, 2017 at 11:44 am

Hi i’m 16 years old i been havin chest pain since grade 8 i’m grade 11 now i thought it’s gone but not i been having chest pain a lot lately and i didn’t tell my parents because they will get mad at me

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    Rachel Camper September 22, 2017 at 9:44 am

    Hi Crisha,

    I think it would be best to inform your parents so that you can determine whether or not your symptoms are worrisome together. It might help to watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post as a first step. If you both are still concerned after watching it, a check-in with your doctor is never a bad idea.

Sissy October 16, 2017 at 10:38 am

My daughter has been complaing since she was 6 that her chest hurts. An she is now 7 an still complaing is it somthang i need to worry about or what

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    Rachel Camper October 17, 2017 at 11:50 am

    Hi Sissy,

    Thanks for taking the time to reach out to us. If you haven’t already, I recommend watching Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It does a great job helping to explain the symptoms that may be worrisome. If you’re still concerned, a checkup with your daughter’s doctor is never a bad idea. Hope this helps!

D’Carlos October 16, 2017 at 7:12 pm

Hi there, I’m 15 gonning to be 16 in December which means I’m in GCSE years, yay. I’ve been getting these sudden chest pains and head pains since 14 August 2017 (the day I’m posting s the 16/08/17). They last around a a couple of seconds and then go and sometimes come with no warning. I’ve been to A and E twice (more times in my entire life) and they said everything was fine. The pains started to happen after my undesended testicle surgery, everything thing was fine surgery went as plan. See the thing is I’m a very healthy child 100% attendance every year since reception so for this to happen to me is a suprise. Any help would really help.

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    Rachel Camper October 17, 2017 at 11:57 am

    Hi D’Carlos,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been in pain. If you haven’t already, please discuss what’s going on with your parents so that you can work on a game plan together. You may even want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video with them, to help determine which symptoms may be worrisome. If you’re still concerned, scheduling an appointment with your doctor for peace of mind is never a bad idea.

Lu November 14, 2017 at 8:07 pm

My 10 year old grandson has just been diagnosed with pancreatitis. He vomits quite often at home for no apparent reason, but never at my house. He spends each weekend with me and he’s fine. He didn’t come for 3 weeks and still got sick at home. I’m so confused. Please help. Am I doing something wrong?

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    Rachel Camper November 21, 2017 at 10:29 am

    Hi Lu,

    Is your grandson having chest pain? I think it’s probably best to get in touch with your grandson’s gastroenterologist to gain his or her perspective on the symptoms he’s having. Hope this helps!

SOPH04 November 19, 2017 at 6:16 pm

Hi im sophie im 13 and i have been having chest pains for 2 weeks. Sometimes i have shortness of breath and sharp pain in my chest. My body seems colder than usuall but never goes back to how it was (warm/hot) i went in ambulance 2 weeks ago they did ecg and said i was fine then last saturday i went to a &e cos of chest pain they said it probs is your muscle but i dont think it isnt

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    Rachel Camper November 21, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Hi SOPH04,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re having chest pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post with your parents. It may help you determine which symptoms are worrisome and which aren’t. If you’re still concerned, it may be best to follow up with the specialist who performed your EKG.

Natalie December 13, 2017 at 7:52 am

Is there anything that an be done to reduce the pain, Advil or Tylenol? This exact thing is happening to my 7 year old.

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    Dr. Nicolas Madsen December 13, 2017 at 12:46 pm

    Natalie – For a child around 7 years old, you could start with some Tylenol. The use of the medication really depends on how long the episodes last and if they are frequent or predictable. If the episodes are brief and random, then by the time you find the Tylenol and give it, the moment will have passed. But if the episodes are longer (maybe 45 min or more), then a little Tylenol might help. Of course, it is also important for me to add that while Tylenol is a safe medication, I would not advise giving it regularly over a long period of time because of the potential for liver injury (meaning for more than 2 weeks as an example). Hope that helps.

      Abby October 26, 2018 at 4:25 pm

      Please help, I’ve been having chest pain on my left for 6 months. I’m 13 years old and I’m very active and participate in a lot of sports. But the pain happens when I lie down, bend down, or most of the times when I am just sitting. I am wondering if it’s the food I eat, I told my parents and I went to the doctor 3 times. I also watched the video at the top of this post. But I still need help…..Could it be IBS? Cause when I get these cramps or pains sometimes my chest feels tight, or I have shortness of breath. The pain got so severe I had to stop breathing, I felt like I was going to die. I’ve tried to narrow it down to Lack of nutrition or Sleep deprivation, but something is wrong with me! PLEASE help!!!!

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        Dr. Nicolas Madsen November 5, 2018 at 11:36 am

        Abby – I am sorry to hear of your symptoms and that nothing seems to be helping. These episodes of chest pain can be very severe and your description matches what I have heard from teenagers before. Unfortunately, as much as I would like to give you a simple answer, I don’t think that is possible in this format. If you are feeling these symptoms, and you are feeling like you are “going to die”, then I really think you need to return to the doctor and give him or her a full description of how you are feeling. If you have already seen the same doctor three times, you could try asking to see another doctor in the same clinic. Or, if you think this is more like IBS, then you could ask to be referred to a pediatric GI specialist. I certainly hope these symptoms get better soon.

fleckolight January 6, 2018 at 4:12 am

My 11 year old son came back from a short holiday complaining that his chest hurt whenever he runs. It’s been happening for about a week. He says whenever he runs or jumps or dances – never when sitting or eating or in resting state. He said it feels like a bruise when it happens. He couldn’t feel it when he took a deep breathe in but could feel it slightly when I pushed on his chest. Am I right for worrying and going and checking it out with doctor next week?

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    Rachel Camper January 9, 2018 at 10:42 am

    Hi fleckolight,

    It’s never a bad idea to have a doctor check something out for peace of mind.

Aiden January 8, 2018 at 12:46 pm

Well recently before this weather hit us when baseball was one of my favorites but this one pitcher hit me in the chest and recently it’s been hurting- Age 13

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    Rachel Camper January 9, 2018 at 10:48 am

    Hi Aiden,

    If you haven’t already, please talk to your parents about your chest pain. You might want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together, and decide if your pain warrants a trip to the doctor.

Jennaa January 19, 2018 at 10:59 am

Hey, I’m 14, chest pains for me have just started today, I woke up at 9am due to chest pains, at has been going on for more than 9 hours, been in bed the whole day due to severe pain, I’m also really lightheaded feel really dizzy and I think I might have a fever, the pain is really bad, tried sitting of sleeping in different positions, nothing works, nothing like that ever happened to me before, this is the first time p and I also have a shortage of breath I don’t feel like I can fully catch my breath, please I need help, my mother claims that its due to some cold or whatever but I do not agree. Please help, thank youuu

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    Rachel Camper January 22, 2018 at 2:28 pm

    Hi Jennaa,

    If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video, which is at the top of this post, with your parents. It may help clarify which symptoms are worrisome and which might not be. If you and your parents are still concerned, a trip to your doctor for peace of mind is never a bad idea. Hope this helps!

Lori January 25, 2018 at 5:03 pm

HI, my 16 year old complained of chest pain and difficulty breathing at dance last night.
She had told my mom, and i just heard.
Her maternal grandmother has long QT syndrome, and ended up in ICU(had a stroke). My daughter is adopted so limited medical info, but she has been tested for longQT, and we were told she does not have it. Wondering if this is something that can happen after you’ve been tested, or once you’ve been tested can’t happen later on in life?

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    Dr. Nicolas Madsen January 29, 2018 at 2:16 pm

    Lori – It’s a little hard to know how to answer your Long QT syndrome question without knowing what type of testing was done (EKG, exercise test, genetic testing, or other?). The adoption history certainly makes the genetic testing more difficult. The good news is that Long QT syndrome usually is not the cause of chest pain or shortness of breath. More typically, it is associated with passing out if there are any symptoms at all. My advice would be to have a discussion with her pediatrician. If there is a lot of concern, then that can be followed by a visit with a cardiologist. Of course, my assumption is that the Long QT evaluation performed previously was complete, which would make further evaluation by a cardiologist potentially less necessary. The most common reason for the chest pain and shortness of breath in your daughter should be the usual non-heart related type of causes (like pain in the chest muscles themselves). But as I said, given the history, maybe best to start with a simple visit to her pediatrician. Hope that helps!

Nandish February 22, 2018 at 9:23 am

Very useful write-up and helps parents take-away the worries and concerns to a great extent. Though we should not ignore any pain especially in the chest but this type of article helps parents understand what is critical v/s common.

ivanka March 3, 2018 at 7:19 pm

Hi,
My 11 year old has been touching his left nipple.
He said it hurts.
He said his right side doesn’t hurt.
He is saying his left nipple but it could be his left side.
My husband thinks it is because he is growing.
His body is going through changes.
What do you thinks .
Mum

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    Rachel Camper March 5, 2018 at 11:09 am

    Hi ivanka,

    I’m sorry to hear that your 11-year old is experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help provide some clarity around whether or not his pain warrants a visit to his doctor for peace of mind.

Ell March 12, 2018 at 1:59 am

Hi im 14years old and my chest all of a dudden keeps getting tight, i have been up all night trying to stay in a position where it wont hurt but the pain keeps coming, it feels like everything behind my brestbone is tightening and i cant breathe as well now either, my mums away so my gran is staying here, what do i do?

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    Rachel Camper March 12, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Hi Ell,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, I would recommend watching the video at the top of this post with one of your parents. It may help you determine what symptoms warrant a trip to your doctor.

DJ March 26, 2018 at 8:10 am

Hi There, I am 8 years old sometimes I get a sharp pain in my chest for 20 to 30 seconds and it’s sore when I breath

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    Rachel Camper March 29, 2018 at 12:54 pm

    Hi DJ,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re having chest pain. If you haven’t already, please inform your parents. You might find it helpful to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together to see what symptoms might warrant a visit to your doctor.

Dan April 8, 2018 at 5:38 pm

Hi
I have cheats pain and when I finishing sport ( dance ), two minutes after. I Felt pain in right side and I am worry.

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    Rachel Camper April 10, 2018 at 5:39 am

    Hi Dan,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, I recommend watching Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help you determine which symptoms might warrant a visit to your doctor.

Lulu April 18, 2018 at 10:00 pm

Hi, I’m 10 and I get some sharp chest pains too. It usually happens when I’m scared. For example, I went to Dollywood a couple weeks ago and I was scared to go on one of the rides. Then my chest started hurting a bit. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, but do you have any feedback?

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    Rachel Camper April 19, 2018 at 11:18 am

    Hi Lulu,

    I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing chest pain! If you haven’t already, please talk with your parents about your pain. You might even find it helpful to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together, to help determine what’s worrisome and what symptoms might warrant a visit to your doctor.

Abigail May 13, 2018 at 3:28 pm

Hi, I’m 12 and I’ve been having a sharp/stabbing pain on my left side. Sometimes on my right side, I went to two different doctors one said it was gas the other said it was intercostal muscle strain. I’m very active and run for more than an hour each day. Personally I think It’s Costo, but the pain is so severe at points I almost have to stop breathing for 5 minutes, and sometimes I just freeze up in class. It happens every day for the entire day and never goes away. It’s been lasting for 2 months help needed please!

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    Rachel Camper May 15, 2018 at 5:31 am

    Hi Abigail,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re experiencing chest pain! If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post with your parents. It might help you decide which symptoms are worrisome, and which are the more common chest pains that happen in childhood and are not caused by heart disease.

LexiDon June 19, 2018 at 1:25 pm

My 6 year old complains of his heart hurting. It’s random. He’ll just be watching t.v. and playing with his toys and he’ll complain his heart hurts. He also, complains while playing more rigorously. It’s not everyday just very random and I don’t see any pattern. It has been going on for about a month now. He developed a murmur about 2 years ago when he was 4, but it was never looked into. Is this something I should be concerned about?

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    Rachel Camper June 20, 2018 at 4:59 am

    Hi LexiDon,

    I’m sorry to hear that your six year old is in pain! If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help you determine which symptoms are worrisome and which aren’t. If you still have concerns, a checkup with his doctor is never a bad idea for peace of mind!

      Abigail October 26, 2018 at 4:28 pm

      Hehe, thanks. It’s still happening for the 6th month now…..But I think I can cope with it, I kinda got used to it. I’m 13 now and I’m kinda leaning towards IBS now, I guess I just gotta live with it, y’know?

Lyanna June 21, 2018 at 11:41 pm

Hi, I’m a girl and when i was 12 years old I felt something strange in my chest because when I bend my back so that my chest sticks out, I get this feeling that a tape is being remove on the skin from the lower left side of my sternum (hope you get it) and when I told my mom about this she told me that it was nothing so I just ignored it. And now that I’m 16 years old I felt a hard L-shape lump on the left side of my sternum and sometimes I feels a stabbing sensation in that area. I’ve been very anxious ever since and I search it in the internet and it makes me feel more anxious because of the things showing up. Hope you reply, thank you.

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    Rachel Camper June 25, 2018 at 1:07 pm

    Hi Lyanna,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re experiencing pain. I would encourage you to speak to your parents about it again. And if you’re still concerned, schedule a visit with your doctor to look into it further.

Paige July 31, 2018 at 10:26 pm

Hi, my daughter has been having chest pains since she was 5, and she says she is still having them, and she is almost 13, I have ignored it because I thought it was nothing but today she started breathing shorter and clasped where her heart is located, she told me it hurts when she takes deep breaths and it happens during physical activity, and resting, I have checked her heart beat and blood pressure and everything was normal. I gave her Ibuprofen and sent her to bed but I was wondering if there is a name for the pain and wondering if there is a cure. . . Is there anything wrong with my child

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    Rachel Camper August 8, 2018 at 7:53 am

    Hi Paige,

    I think watching Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post will help you decide if your daughter’s symptoms are concerning. If you’re still worried, a trip to her doctor may be warranted for peace of mind. Hope this helps!

Emily August 6, 2018 at 7:27 am

I’m 12 years old and a few days ago, my chest, back and shoulders have suddenly started having a sharp burning sensation. In a few days I need to go into my school for a performance and my mum is determined to get me there but I really don’t feel in shape to go out and do it. The only way I can find to lessen it a little bit is to lie down on my bed as nothing seems to help. Should I be okay to go out and attend school?

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    Rachel Camper August 8, 2018 at 7:51 am

    Hi Emily,

    If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post with your mom. It may help you determine which symptoms are worrisome and which aren’t. If you’re still having concerns, it’s never a bad idea to visit your doctor.

Avi August 27, 2018 at 11:11 pm

I had pains like this for years like once a month(since I was 8), but quite recently, they come without warning consistently, and I’m kind of worried about it. I’d like to know a good treatment for it if it is a real problem.

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    Rachel Camper August 28, 2018 at 4:36 am

    Hi Avi,

    I am sorry to hear that you’ve been in pain for so long! If you haven’t already, please watch the video at the top of this post (especially with your parents if you’re under 18!). Dr. Madsen helps explain the types of symptoms that are on the more worrisome side. If you’re still concerned, a visit with your doctor for peace of mind is never a bad idea.

Anne October 1, 2018 at 1:43 pm

My son is 15 yrs old complaining his chest heart hurts when he lays down or getting up. He say his heart sharp pains and feeling little burns….. He having a hard time……. Should I be concern????

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    Rachel Camper October 2, 2018 at 7:38 am

    Hi Anne,

    I am sorry to hear that your son is complaining of chest pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may be helpful in determining if any of his symptoms are concerning. If you’re still worried, a trip to his doctor for peace of mind is never a bad idea.

Lizzy October 5, 2018 at 3:00 pm

I have pain when I am doing thing that makes my work like mowing the lawn and stuff like that and some times get a headache and get dizzy it can hurt a lot and once it was hard to breathe should I be worried

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    Rachel Camper October 8, 2018 at 7:44 am

    Hi Lizzy,

    I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. I think it helps explain which symptoms to be worried about. If you’re still concerned, a visit to your doctor is never a bad idea.

G October 19, 2018 at 9:32 pm

Hi I have had a sharp pain in my chest that lasts a few seconds at a time. This happened 3 TIMES just today. I’m scared. Also I’m 15

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    Rachel Camper October 22, 2018 at 6:38 am

    Hi G,

    If you haven’t already, please speak with your parents about the pain you’re experiencing. You might find it helpful to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together. It may help you determine what symptoms are worrisome and when it is appropriate to contact your doctor.

PPanda November 18, 2018 at 5:31 pm

I have the same thing

Maria Redecop November 27, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Hi my daughter is 9 years old and has chest pain a lot every day sometimes even more than once a day does anybody know what caused the problem or what can I do about it

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    Rachel Camper November 29, 2018 at 6:36 am

    Hi Maria,

    I am sorry to hear that your daughter is experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, I recommend watching Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help you determine which symptoms are worrisome and when to see your doctor to either investigate further or to give you peace of mind.

Nathan December 9, 2018 at 10:23 pm

I am 12 years old as well. Sometimes, I feel pain on my left chest when I take a deep breath. This only occurs within a 20 second to 1 minute period. I was wondering what the underlying cause might be? Thanks in advance.

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    Rachel Camper December 10, 2018 at 6:31 am

    Hi Nathan,

    If you haven’t already, please speak with your parents about the pain you’ve been experiencing. You might want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together. It may help you determine if a visit to your doctor is warranted.

Family December 10, 2018 at 7:19 am

My four year old has complaining of her chest hurting for the last couple of days. She wakes up with it and just while she is laying around

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    Rachel Camper December 11, 2018 at 5:47 am

    Hi Family,

    I am sorry to hear that your four year old has been experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help you determine if a visit to her doctor is warranted.

Shaily January 3, 2019 at 5:56 pm

Hi, My daughter is 3.5years old and had open heart surgery for TOF when she was 8months old. But from past 3 days she is complaining about chest pain that last up to 2-3 mins at random time. We went to Emergency and they have done X ray and ECG and everything was fine. Today also she complaint about the same pain. I am worried that is it something to do with TOF surgery or not. Her eco was good last year and is due this September.

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    Dr. Nicolas Madsen January 7, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    Shaily,

    I think it would be best for you to discuss this with your daughter’s cardiologist. While it is most likely that this chest pain is not heart related, your daughter’s Congenital Heart Disease history means that she should be examined/evaluated by a cardiologist to be sure. Best of luck and I hope she feels better soon.

Jacob January 9, 2019 at 12:12 pm

Ive been having chest pain since this time last year but it doesnt affect me alot and i dont have a cough or fatigue or any of that except sometimes i have to take deep breaths but i think its because i have a stuffy nose right now. The pain is not bad but it rotates from he left to right to the middle or sometimes it doesnt hurt at all

Rhea January 14, 2019 at 3:50 am

Hey, I’m 12 and I’m having a left side pain under my breast radiating to my back, I told my mom and she said it is probably just growing pains because of development and stuff but it’s spread to my stomach now as well, and where I am its 12:52 am. I don’t want to wake her up if it’s nothing. I have tried to just sleep it off and see if in the morning it’s better but when I try to lay down it hurts. I can’t sleep and I’m exhausted. Please help.

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    Rachel Camper January 14, 2019 at 6:28 am

    Hi Rhea,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re in pain. I think the best bet is for you to watch Dr. Madsen’s video with your mom, and together, determine next steps. The video may help you both determine which symptoms are worrisome and warrant a visit to your doctor.

Diana January 17, 2019 at 10:16 am

Hi my 9 yr old daugther recently complaining about headache and chest pain pls help what to do this happens recently and sometimes twice a week….i had to make excuse for her class because of her condition..pls help

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    Rachel Camper January 22, 2019 at 5:35 am

    Hi Diana,

    I am sorry to hear that your daughter is in pain. If you haven’t already, I would recommend watching Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It may help you determine which symptoms are worrisome. If you’re still concerned, a trip to her doctor for peace of mind is never a bad idea.

Kris January 27, 2019 at 7:48 pm

I took my 17 yr old to the ER because of chest pain do to an injury. Three hours later we are told she has a large mass in her chest and needs to see a cardiothorasic surgeon asap. After a month in labs, tests, and scans she was diagnosed with stage 2 Hodgkins Lymphoma. She is now 2 yrs cancer free. I have never been one to take my kids to ER for minor injuries but I think God everyday that I did that weekend.

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    Dr. Nicolas Madsen January 30, 2019 at 5:24 am

    Kris – I am very glad to hear that your daughter is doing well and is now 2 years cancer free. You may be surprised to know that I too recently had my own cancer experience with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Fortunately, much like your daughter, my treatment was also successful. As a result of this experience, I definitely understand your point. The timely discovery of a treatable cancer is a blessing not to be taken for granted. However, as you know, chest pain in isolation is a rare way for cancer to present and the vast majority of adolescents with chest pain are not experiencing anything as worrisome as lymphoma (thank goodness). Thank you for sharing your daughter’s story and I wish her continued great health.

Aayam February 4, 2019 at 10:21 pm

Hi I am 16 years old and sometimes my chest just randomly starts hurting per day. sometimes it hurts a lot sometimes not, i get it every day and its hurts me more. It started while i am 13 years old. can u give me some suggestions?

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    Rachel Camper February 5, 2019 at 12:56 pm

    Hi Aayam,

    If you haven’t already, please talk to your parents about the chest pain you’re experiencing. You may even want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. Together, it could help you determine which symptoms are worrisome.

itsme February 14, 2019 at 11:45 am

hello, my 14 year old daughter has been having chest pains for over a year on and off, they were severe but sporadic. At first we thought they were muscoloskelital and we did have an ECG and xray done just in case, and results normal.

It carried on with just on and off occurences until about a month ago, she she now says when the pain comes on, she feels pain each time her heart beats and her left arm goes numb as well. It seems to have got worse. The only related thing that has happened recently is she had to use the epipen for a reaction and her heart rate went off the scale in the hospital monitor. I do not know if that could have damaged her heart.

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    Dr. Nicolas Madsen February 18, 2019 at 3:09 pm

    I do not believe the Epipen and the elevated heart rate that came after should have any impact on your daughter’s heart. You are certainly correct, using an Epipen causes a sharp and immediate increase in the heart rate every time. However, the mechanism behind this increase is exactly the same as when your daughter exercises or gets nervous. Meaning, it is a normal heart rate response and the body is perfectly designed to respond to it. Hopefully the chest pain will get better soon. It is certainly always upsetting to have occasional episodes of pain, especially when they are hard to predict and control. Hope that helps.

Jennifer February 19, 2019 at 1:11 am

Hi my name is Jennifer, I am 15 years old, sometimes when I eat the right side of my chest starts to hurt a lot and it gets hard to breathe sometimes. They usually start at night and last hours so it’s hard for me to get any sleep and sometimes I will wake up to it hurting. This usually happens 2-5 times a month. I tell my mom and she will give me some Tylenol but it still continues to hurt. Can you please tell me what’s wrong with me because the pain can be to much sometimes!

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    Rachel Camper February 20, 2019 at 5:18 am

    Hi Jennifer,

    I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing chest pain. I would suggest having your mom watch Dr. Madsen’s video with you. It may help you both determine if your symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor.

Ali February 23, 2019 at 11:40 am

Hi i’m a 13 year old girl and for like 6 months i’ve had some pains near my heart. It only lasts for a few seconds but i’m still scared. I want to tell my mum but i’m scared of that. The pain is just a little stinging pain for a few seconds. Yesterday i did land funny on my chest while doing jido, but before i landed funny i winded myself

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    Rachel Camper February 26, 2019 at 5:06 am

    Hi Ali,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re having chest pain. I would recommend talking to your mum about it. Together, you might want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video at the top of this post. It might be able to help you both determine which symptoms are worrisome and if you need an evaluation by your doctor.

Louie February 26, 2019 at 4:21 pm

Hi I’m 11 and I randomly get chest pains and I don’t know what to do my mom says ignore it but should I?

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    Rachel Camper February 27, 2019 at 5:39 am

    Hi Louie,

    I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing chest pain. I think talking to your mom again might be helpful; this time, watch Dr. Madsen’s video with her. It might help give you peace of mind, or help you decide if you need to be seen by doctor.

Sabrina March 3, 2019 at 2:41 pm

I am Sabrina I am 13, I have been having chest pain for 7 weeks now and I have been to my family doctor twice and I got an x-ray and my blood drawn there, a respiratory doctor once and I am going to a neurologist tomorrow. (I watched the video) most of the time my pain will last for a few minutes but it has lasted for hours a few times. my chest x-ray is normal my blood test only showed low vitamin d witch I am taking supplements for and slightly low white blood cell count witch my doctor said it is nothing to worry about. And The respiratory doctor said everything is normal ( she said to try heartburn medicine and it didn’t do anything). Me and my family are stumped. I was just a normal healthy girl with no medical problems. but then I started having chest pain, back pain, random muscle pain and fatigue. with my fatigue I will randomly feel tired or like I am breathing weird and sometimes it feels like my knees want to give out. I have noticed that I have been having random head aches nothing bad. The pain will happen both when I am laying down and when I am doing activities in gym ( sometimes hurting more when I breathe in). Advil and alive have done nothing for any of my pain. Could this be anything related to my heart? Could this be idiopathic? If everything seems normal at the neurologist should I see a Cardiologist, even just to rule heart problems out?

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    Rachel Camper March 5, 2019 at 11:42 am

    Hi Sabrina,

    I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing chest pain! It sounds like you are and your parents are taking thoughtful steps to determine the source. You asked if your pain could be related to your heart. It would be difficult for our experts to make that determination in this format; however, I might suggest taking a closer look at Dr. Madsen’s list of questions. #4, #5, and #6 may apply to your situation and help you answer that question.

Elina March 3, 2019 at 11:13 pm

hey i’m 13 and i have been having sharp pains on both sides of my chest, they don’t really bother be that much but i know its there. my sternum also hurts when i put pressure on it. I have gone to the doctor before and they have done heart tests. They said it was something about muscle but i don’t think thats the case because it wont go away. Its been about half a year already. Recently sometimes whenever I gulp the left side of my chest feels uncomfortable.

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    Rachel Camper March 5, 2019 at 11:46 am

    Hi Elina,

    I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. If you haven’t already, please talk to your parents about it. You might even want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together, to help you discuss your symptoms.

John March 8, 2019 at 10:53 am

My chest is hurting on the left side it has been happening since yesterday when i was sleeping at night with my chest downwards i am twelve – john

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    Rachel Camper March 11, 2019 at 5:52 am

    Hi John,

    I am sorry to hear that you’re in pain. Please talk to your parents about it. You might want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together to help determine whether or not a trip to the doctor is warranted.

Paula March 8, 2019 at 7:31 pm

My son has chest pain for last 4 weeks the doct has give him acid tablets for reflux he also gave him antibiotics for chest infection the first time but nothing seems to cure severe he has a lot of salt in his mouth day and night and in a lot of pain and soreness he is bent over when he stands up what is wrong with my son

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    Rachel Camper March 11, 2019 at 5:58 am

    Hi Paula,

    I am sorry to hear that your son is in pain! It would be difficult for our experts to determine what’s going on with your son in this format. However, it sounds like you have been taking appropriate steps by taking him to be seen by his doctor. If you continue to have concerns, I would recommend following up with your son’s main physician.

Rajan March 9, 2019 at 10:39 pm

Hi
I am 27 years old. I am suffering from right side chest pain since 6 months. I feel pin point and bubble type pain in chest that moving. From one point. To another point. My X-ray is normal.
What I do???

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    Rachel Camper March 11, 2019 at 6:00 am

    Hi Rajan,

    I am sorry to hear that you have been experiencing chest pain for so long! I would suggest watching Dr. Madsen’s video for perspective on which symptoms are worrisome. If you are still concerned, I would schedule an appointment with your doctor for peace of mind.

Marquise April 28, 2019 at 9:41 pm

Hi im 14 and im constantly havjng chest pains and throat issues . Also its hard for me to sleep at night due to the pain and ny heart rate goes up and down and my eye site feel very messed up feels like im going crossed eyed and my eyes are also very blurry where I can barely see correctly . Do You Know What It Could Be ?

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    Rachel Camper April 29, 2019 at 7:01 am

    Hi Marquise,

    It would be difficult to determine what’s going on in this format. If you haven’t already, please talk to your parents about your symptoms. It may be worthwhile to schedule an appointment with your doctor to learn more.

Emily May 6, 2019 at 7:52 pm

Hey, my name is Emily and I’m 13 and I’ve been having weird feelings in my chest. The last time I had it was like two weeks ago but basically I have random “attacks” that come out of the blue. Sometimes when I’m just sitting down at home, in class, at gym class or even when I’m eating. It just appears at any time. Basically it feels like I can’t breathe for about 2 seconds and at the same time it feels like my heart stopped and there is a sharp pain. My mom thinks it might be a form of anxiety but I’m never worried or feeling pressured about anything. Normally i just feel like a normal happy person going through a normal day with no worries in my life. So I don’t get what my condition is. My sister also had this type of thing and noticed it about 2 years ago and she still has it. At first hers was pretty severe and now it’s like mine. Just subtle. I’d say the attacks were about 5-10 days apart but now they aren’t THAT frequent. More like 1-2 weeks apart. I first started recognizing I had this about a little under a year ago. I’m just hoping someone knows what this is because it’s really scaring me.

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    Rachel Camper May 9, 2019 at 5:50 am

    Hi Emily,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing chest pain. If you haven’t already, please watch Dr. Madsen’s video with your mom. It does a great job of clarifying which symptoms may be worrisome and warrant a visit to your doctor.

Khazi May 30, 2019 at 10:53 am

Hi I am 15 years old and I’ve been having chest pains for almost 3 weeks, I have the pain everyday after 1pm and it’s not getting any better it’s only getting worse because now my stomach hurts on top of all of the chest pain.
What can I do to try and stop this pain

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    Rachel Camper May 31, 2019 at 6:16 am

    Hi Khazi,

    I am sorry to hear that you have been experiencing pain. If you haven’t already, please speak with your parents about it. You might even want to watch Dr. Madsen’s video together to help determine if your symptoms are worrisome and warrant a visit to your doctor.

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